Shelby Mathis
Creative Director / Strategic Brand Designer
Denver, CO
Q What do you do?
“I help mission-driven organizations and entrepreneurs build powerful brands and visual identities through creative direction and strategic design that connects creative to business goals in ways that still feel human.”
I concept, direct, and execute meaningful creative on high-impact initiatives such as branding, campaigns, events, and publications.
Branding can feel like trying to read the label from inside the jar, so I provide structure that facilitates a smooth creative process and the perspective shifts needed to clearly define, design, and refine meaningful branding and visual identities.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
After completing a BFA with honors in Graphic Design in 2011, I launched a freelance consultancy rooted in creative services for high-impact, global missions.
My experience was built designing extensively for mission-driven nonprofits and business owners since 2011, supporting dozens of bold missions with equally audacious creative. I’ve provided creative leadership and visual strategy for mission-driven organizations such as Operation Homefront, Vellore Christian Medical College Foundation, CFK Africa, Invisible Children, Connective Tissue Coaching & Consulting, Mercy Project, Beirut and Beyond, Donkeysaddle Projects, and many more.
I supported these missions and brands by providing comprehensive art direction and design, concepting visual identity for global campaigns, executing design and creative direction for events, directing premium publications, concepting and producing international photography and film projects, refining brand messaging for diverse audiences, and more.
I’ve added unprecedented creative dimension, consistency, and clarity to all facets of branding and marketing as creative lead for my client organizations, resulting in years of exponential organizational growth across the board.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I serve deeply, just like my clients do. I bring structure, reliability, clarity, confidence, and flexibility to the creative process so they can focus on their important mission and work. My approach is collaborative leadership because problem solving with founders and teams – not just for them – is where trust and great creative is born.
I’ve perfected the balance of facilitating transformational projects as an agile freelancer, while delivering as consistently and reliably as an agency. While other contractors sell hours and deliverables, I’ve been determined to build a business that centers good missions, experiences, and partnerships.
My clients experience how investing in damn good design and branding can be transformational. They also experience the power of human-centered creative collaboration – the kind that makes each interaction feel like a warm cup of coffee with a friend – which helps us stay grounded in our people-centered work in an increasingly inhumane world.
Q What are you working on right now?
I recently rebranded and relaunched my own website at ShelbyMathis.com! With that behind me, I’m developing brand identity for a social media marketing collective, art directing and designing assets for a brand kit for an mission-driven entrepreneur brand, and preparing to begin branding and creative strategy for a global non-profit for a milestone campaign and comprehensive campaign.
Closer to home, I’m developing a table-based event series with guest chefs from different cultures and countries in my city. Eventually, my co-creators and I will turn this into a cookbook and storytelling campaign.
This wide range of projects keeps me inspired, sharp, and excited!
Q What’s your style?
I am a values-led entrepreneur, and this shows up in everything I do and how I engage business, including a portion of my profits and pro-bono capacity going toward support for displaced Palestinian families from Gaza. My values are Integrity, Humanity, and Wholeheartedness. You can read more about how these are embodied on my website.
I love partnering with mission-driven organizations and brands, like the branding work I’ve done with branding work I've done with Connective Tissue Coaching & Consulting, the cookbook I designed for CFK Africa, and the global campaign I developed visual identity for with Donkeysaddle Projects. Explore case studies at ShelbyMathis.com.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I focused on documentary and editorial photography for a few years as I partnered with non-profits for whom I provided creative direction and wraparound creative services. I’d like to hone my photography skills and add this back into my menu of offerings someday!
Q What is frustrating you right now?
My core value of Humanity means prioritizing human creation when possible, because I believe the brands with heart are the ones who will continue to create positive change in the world. As AI consumes more and more natural resources we don’t have to spare, it's making the world’s most vulnerable people even more vulnerable. When AI use (or any technology use) creates climate injustice, it creates human rights injustice. More than ever, I’m interested in partnerships that can preserve the integrity of mission-driven work by not furthering the issues we're trying solve for humanity.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Working from home means a lot of eating at home. I’m a huge foodie but rarely inspired to cook an elaborate lunch between deep work sessions and client calls. And I’m always hungry planning an food event series and designing cookbooks! So, I would happily pay someone to cook delicious food for me during the work week.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
Don't think you must play hard because you work hard – humans don't have to earn their rest. We need both. We get to have both. This is the future of sustainable work! The sooner you embody this, the healthier and more effective you and your work will be!
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
My uncle (who recently retired) was self-employed his entire career. I’m looking forward to picking his brain on entrepreneurship for the long haul – for years to come.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I partner on high-impact projects that move things forward for your mission. Here’s how I help:
• Branding & Visual Identity Development — Forging powerful branding and developing strategic visual identities to help your meaningful mission connect deeply with the right audiences. Explore at Shelbymathis.com/branding
• Strategic Events & Campaigns — Empowering the effective, strategic creative your most powerful campaigns and events need to grow and sustain your mission. Explore at shelbymathis.com/events-campaigns
• Full-Scale Publications — Guiding collaboration with organizations, founders, and creators on publications that deliver impact and drive branding. Explore at Shelbymathis.com/publications
• Need something else? Though you’ll benefit most from my expertise in guiding high-impact projects and large-scale initiatives, I can engage ongoing consultancies and smaller creative needs.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal clients are mission-driven nonprofits and small businesses or founders who are:
🫙 Ready to invest in powerful design and visual storytelling that still feels human
🫙 Mission-driven and values-aligned
🫙 Care as much about our process as our outcomes
Q: What is your rate?
• Branding & Visual Identity Development — Customized branding packages start at $10,000.
• Strategic Events & Campaigns — Customized fees start at $8,000.
• Full-Scale Publications — Customized publication services start at $18,000.
• My rate for ongoing consultancies and smaller creative needs varies based on scope, timeline, and needs. I can work on a retainer, project-based, or $110 hourly fee with minimum engagement agreements, and happy to discuss what's doable!
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Visit www.shelbymathis.com/contact to fill out my inquiry form and connect with me!
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
I’m always learning new art skills to enrich my creative practice, which only serves to benefit my creative business and clients. In 2025, I took a intaglio course with printmaker Virginia Diaz-Saiki to brush up on my copperplate etching skills, and another course with artist Teresa Cribelli on the outsider art of collage. Eyeing a book-making course called Creative Resistance with Jeanne Oliver next!
This member profile was originally published in January 2026.